A mini heatwave is set to hit parts of the UK which could be hotter than California at the end of the week as temperatures are expected to soar past 30C.

High pressure set to build from the middle of the week means south Essex is forecast to be as hot as Los Angeles on Saturday - with 25C predicted for both.

Other parts of the UK will be even hotter as the south-east England could reach 32C on Friday, according to the Met Office – soaring past the 26C predicted for Los Angeles.

Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud told the PA news agency at the weekend: "We are looking at the possibility of reaching the low 30s later in the week, most likely on Friday, probably in and around London, running into East Anglia and other parts of the South and East."

Here is the full day-by-day forecast for south Essex this week:

Tuesday (August 15)

Cloudy changing to sunny intervals by early evening with temperatures to reach 23C. 

Wednesday (August 16)

Sunny intervals with 24C forecast.

Thursday (August 17)

Sunny intervals as temperatures to hit 22C.

Friday (August 18)

Cloudy day with 23C predicted.

Saturday (August 19)

Light showers changing to sunny intervals by late morning. 25C forecast.

Sunday (August 20)

Sunny changing to light showers in the afternoon and temperatures expected to hit 25C again.